Family of murdered teen Poonam Ranhawa urges long sentence for her killer

Kim Bolan, Vancouver Sun03.20.2013

Harry Randhawa spoke exclusively to the Sun‘s Kim Bolan about his family’s 14-year ordeal after the brutal murder of his cousin Poonam Randhawa 14 years ago in Surrey. March 13, 2013.Mark van Manen
/ Vancouver Sun

Overcome with grief, Madhu Randhawa, the mother of murdered Poonam Randhawa, gets some assistance outside the Hamilton-Harron Funeral Center in Vancouver after the funeral service for her daughter. Poonam Randhawa was a 18 year old honour-roll student at Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School and was found shot in the head and dumped in Vancouver.Nick Didlick
/ Vancouver Sun

,Poonam ‘Jindy’ Randhawa, was murdered by a single shot to the head.COPY
/ HANDOUT

Harry Randhawa still remembers the gut-wrenching feeling he had on Jan. 26, 1999 as he drove to his uncle Rashpal’s house after a panicked call from his mother.

“She was crying and she said, ‘Come to uncle’s house right now. It’s Poonam.’”

When he arrived, everyone was distraught. A young Vancouver police officer told him the horrifying news — his 18-year-old cousin Poonam, “the light of the family,” had been killed.

What he learned afterwards was even more devastating — that his beloved cousin had been shot in the head by a former classmate who had been stalking her.

“We were shell-shocked. We are still shell-shocked,” Harry said in a recent interview. “It devastated our family. It was like a nuclear bomb went off. Even up till now, many of us are still pretty fractured putting our lives back together.”

Within hours of the fatal shooting, Poonam’s killer Ninderjit Singh fled to California, where he hid until he was captured in a cross-border police sting in August 2011.

Last week, the now 35-year-old pleaded guilty in B.C. Supreme Court to second-degree murder. His sentencing hearing will begin March 27.

“We are relieved and taken aback by the surprise guilty plea,” Harry said, speaking on behalf of his whole family, including Poonam’s parents, Madhu and Rashpal.

“But the victory is bittersweet because we know this murder was premeditated, planned and deliberate, and he was helped by his family and friends to flee and hide.”

They were also disturbed to hear Singh’s lawyer Russ Chamberlain comment to reporters that Singh would serve 10 years — which is the minimum term before parole eligibility for second-degree murder.

“We want to see him sentenced to life with 18 to 25 years before eligibility for parole, and we will be there at every parole hearing to keep him locked up for as long as possible,” Harry said. “We want the courts to send a strong message.”

Poonam Randhawa was a popular Grade 12 honours student at Sir Winston Churchill secondary when she was gunned down just two days after her birthday. Her murder spurred rallies by women’s groups concerned that stalking was not being taken seriously enough.

A strong, confident teen, Poonam had never reported the problems she was having with Singh to police or her close-knit family.

“We have a lot regrets, obviously, because if you could go back in time — if you knew then what you know now, you would do whatever you could to help her,” Harry said. “But we didn’t know.”

When Harry and his family moved to Vancouver from England, they lived with Poonam, her little brother Loveneet and their parents just off Fraser Street in east Vancouver.

“It was good times. We grew up in the house together,” he recalled. “We did all the things normal kids do. We played. We’d kick around balls, play tag and video games.”

Harry’s favourite photograph is of Loveneet and Poonam as young children, mugging for the camera.

“You can see they were real sweethearts. Poonam was sweet but had a little bit of attitude. She could take care of herself in a lot of ways. Really outgoing,” he said.

Loveneet had a serious digestive illness that took his life in March 1996 when he was just 13.

“When he passed, it was really hard for all of us, because we were so tight. But in particular, it was hard for Poonam — it is never easy to lose your younger sibling.”

After Harry’s family moved to their own house, he didn’t see Poonam as often. He had a new girlfriend. Poonam was busy with high school.

“She was living her life and we were doing our own thing,” he said. “If I could go back, I wish I could capture every moment with her that I had the chance to. But you don’t get that chance.”

Compounding the trauma of her violent death was the fact that Singh eluded police on both sides of the border for 12 years. He got married, had two children and was working as a truck driver when the authorities finally nabbed him 18 months ago.

The Randhawas are grateful for the efforts of Vancouver police and their counterparts in California. But they still believe those who helped the fugitive should also be charged.

“We hold his friends and family accountable too for helping him hide and supporting him on the run all these years, and it burns us to know they were never charged with aiding or abetting,” Harry said. “I don’t know how they live with themselves.”

It was hard for him and his family to see Singh’s relatives and supporters in court — “his little cheering section.” He doesn’t think his cousin’s killer has any remorse for what he’s done.

He wants Poonam remembered as a hero who had her whole life in front of her and died trying to stand up for herself.

He wants his nine-month-old son Arjun to know the memory of the aunt he will never meet.

“When he grows up and thinks about being courageous, or standing up to somebody, Poonam’s who I want him to think about,” Harry said, tears welling in his eyes. “We are very proud of her. The time that she was here, it was good. It was beautiful, but that time was too short.”

Harry said Singh’s sentence should “send a clear message that someone that victimizes another person will pay the price.”

“Even if you think you can run and hide, eventually everyone is held accountable for their actions.”

Shortly after Singh was brought back to Canada to face justice in September 2011, the Randhawas learned of a similar murder in Surrey of Simon Fraser student Maple Batalia. Her former boyfriend has now been charged with murder.

“I just remember turning on the TV and hearing about Maple and I just thought it was like Poonam all over again,” Harry said.

“I really want people to know that violence against women is not just a women’s issue, that violence of any kind impacts everyone around them.”

Almost Done!

Postmedia wants to improve your reading experience as well as share the best deals and promotions from our advertisers with you. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile.

By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Postmedia to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.

Postmedia wants to improve your reading experience as well as share the best deals and promotions from our advertisers with you. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile.

By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Postmedia to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.